Golf: Ryder Cup stars heading for La Moye

  • European Seniors Tour returns to Jersey
  • 10 former Ryder Cup players signed up
  • Organisers hoping for good weather

THREE former Ryder Cup Europe team captains will be in Jersey at the start of next month, as the European Seniors Tour returns to the Island for the first time in five years.

Sam Torrance, Mark James and Jersey resident Ian Woosnam will all contest the three-day 54-hole strokeplay Acorn Jersey Open, which is due to start on Thursday 4 June at La Moye Golf Club.

Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, who will return to Jersey in June, won the event in 2005

Also included in a field of 60 professionals, who will play for a prize fund of 250,000 Euros, are former Ryder Cup players Ronan Rafferty, Barry Lane, Miguel Martin, Des Smyth, Gordon Brand, Philip Walton and Gordon Brand Jnr, who won the 2010 event.

Playing alongside the professionals in the Pro-Am part of the event will be 60 amateurs, many of whom will be visiting the Island from far afield, including at least ten making the journey from Barbados.

Having run the Jersey Open from 1991 to 1995, and then the Seniors Open from 1996 to 2000, Jim Brewer has returned as tournament organiser for the 2015 edition. He says it was a sad moment when the Jersey Seniors Open ceased in 2011 but he’s delighted to have it back again.

‘It was obviously very disappointing because a lot of people were very keen on it – it has a great tradition because we’ve had some fantastic winners over the years,’ explained Brewer.

‘We’ve had five winners who have been Ryder Cup captains, which is quite extraordinary. And furthermore, Bernard Langer and Mark James both came second in the Jersey Open and they were both Ryder Cup captains as well.

‘The Jersey Open first started in 1978, when Brian Huggett won it and the next year it was the first tournament that Sandy Lyle ever won. It’s got a great history.

Jersey resident Ian Woosnam has been a big supporter of the Jersey Open over the yearsThe event has attracted big crowds in years gone byFans follow Ian Woosnam down the fairway in 2009

‘We’re very pleased to have it back – hopefully we are going to get good weather, we’ve got a lot of visitors and I know it will be a success.’

He added: ‘We’re very grateful to Acorn Finance and their director Richard Harrop for sponsoring it.

‘Ian Woosnam is very much behind the tournament as well. He’s been a great help, talking to numerous people on our behalf, so we’re grateful to him. We’re also grateful to Tommy Horton, who has been instrumental in helping us find backing this year.’

Discussing the list of professionals who will be in attendance, Brewer continued: ‘The entry list was very, very good. Everyone who I expected to enter had entered. Jersey is a very popular venue, which is no surprise really … that’s why we’ve always had great support throughout the years.’

The 2015 Jersey Seniors Open, which runs from 4-6 June, is also supported by International Plywood Group and Locate Jersey. Spectators are welcome, free of charge.

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